Roller-skate



(No Model.)

v; ROWLETT.

ROLLER SKATE.

i No. 292,862.

Patented Feb. 5, 1884.

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- 1 UNTTED STATES PATENT FETCH.

JACOB V. ROWLETT, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

ROLLER-SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 292,862, dated February 5, 1854.

Application filed August 24, 1883. So model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JACOB V. Rownnr'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rich mond, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller-Skates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to that class of rollerskates in which the foot-piece has an oseillating motion upon the trucks laterally, and in which the trucks are permitted an independent oblique movement relatively to the footpiece.

My invention consists in a foot-piece of two or more layers or stripsconnected together, which may be molded or shaped to the foot, if desired.

It further consists of a rectilinear case or housing secured to the under side of thefootpiece, to which the truck-hangers are attached, and which incloses the springs, the vertical sides of which are provided with angular slots, in which a horizontal shaft has its bearing. This shaft is secured to and controls the upper portion of the truck-hangers, and is actuated laterally by the pressure exerted upon the springs which carrythe foot-piece.

It further consists in the arrangement of three cube-shaped springs, one placed immediately above the two placed side by side.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my skate in an inverted position. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of one of the trucks, showing the operating parts in position. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of the same. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the case or housing, showing the angular slots in the sides and-the hinged frame by which pressure on the springs is regulated, and also showing the lugs by which the housing is secured to the foot piece. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the truck-hanger, showing the axle of the truck, the plate. forming the top of the truck-hanger, and the shaft traversing the upper portion of the same, and also showing the upper surface of the top-plate. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an intermediate pressure-plate, showing its manner of construction. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the bottom 'of the foot-piece, showing the trucks standing obliquely relatively to each other and to the vertical plane of the foot piece.

Like letters refer to like parts.

In Fig. 1, A is the foot-piece of a rollerskate of the ordinary form, and composed of two or more pieces of wood or other suitable material.

B B are the wheels of the common form, and G O the axles upon which the wheels revolve.

D-is the truck-hanger, in the form of a loop at the lower end, and provided with hubs on its opposite arms to receive the axle O, as seen in Fig. 3.

G is the housing or case containing the springs and plates, as hereinafter described. It consists of a rectilinear case or box, the sides of which are provided with oblique slots,

open at the lower edge of theside,and extend ing upward and backwark in the front truck, and upward and forward in the rear truck. The ends and sides of the housing incline i11- ward from the top, and the opening in the bottom is smaller than at the top. The upper portion of one end of the housing has a semicircular projection, on, hollow, and having its bottom plate provided with a hole having a screw-thread to receive a'set-screw- H is a rectilinear frame,in size made to correspond with the dimensions of the inside surface of the bottom of the housing G. The open end of the frame H terminates in curved jaws. which engage a belt or rod running parallel with the end of the housing and within it, forming a hinge,which allows the curved end of the frame H a vertical motion, as seen at Fig. 4-. v

\Vithin the housing G, and in contact with the lower surface of the foot-piece A, is a cube formed rubber spring, at, resting upon the plate E, which is of rectilinear form and of proper size and shape to fit the inner surface of the housing G. The plate E in turn rests upon two distinct and separate springs, an, of similar form to m. These springs a a rest upon the plate E, which forms the top part of the truck-hanger'D. The plate E has ribs raised on the edges and a corresponding rib in the center, the spaces between the ribs forming seats for the springs n n, Fig. 3. The housing G, carrying the foot-piece A, is permitted an oscillating motion laterally by the depression of the springs as the weight of the skater is thrown from side to side. I

The shaft F passes through the upper part of the truck-hanger D at right angles with the sides of the housing G, and traverses at either end the slots S in the sides of the housing. As the foot-piece and housing are inclined to either side, the end of the shaft F 011 the side which is depressed is carried upward and .forward in the slot S, carrying with it the truckwheel on that side, and by that means the truck is swiveled, so as to produce a curvilinear motion of the skate. The housing of the rear and front trucks are reversed, so that the slot S in each tends upward. Toward the center of the skate a set-screw, h, passes through a projection upon the closed end of the hinged frame H, having its seat in the semicircular projection 00 of the housing G. The side bars of the frame H come in contact with edges of the plate E,.when the screw h is tightened, and as the plate E is raised by the action of the screw greater density and rigidity is imparted to the springs m n n by the pressure so prod need, and a .correspondingly-increased side pressure is required to be exerted by the skater in tilting the skate and in deflecting the truck from a direct line. increased or diminished by the set-screw Fig. 2.

In Fig. 4 the housing G is clearly shown with the frame H attached, as before described, as also the slots S.

In Fig. 7 the trucks are shown as being out of line, or in the position which they assume relatively to each other when influenced by the side pressure indicated in Fig. 3, by which a curvilinear path is traversed by the skate.

The arrangement of the springs m n n in pyramid form renders the tilting of the footpiece easier of accomplishment and gives the oscillations a wider range. In the act of skat- The pressure upon the springs is.

ing, whenv the weight is thrown upon the front truck and the foot-piece tilted, that truck alone is deflected from the line of direction, and the same effect is produced by throwing the weight upon the rear truck, the trucks having independent action in reference to the direction required.

The foot-piece A being composed of two or more layers of wood or other material made to adhere, renders it capable of being formed or molded into any required modification of the common shape that may be desirable to produce an easy and snug conformation to the shape of the foot or the shoe of the skater.

I disclaim the use of two or more pieces or layers of wood placed upon each other and .cemented together in the formation of a footpiece for roller-skates.

Havi u g thus fully described my said improve ment, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The housing G, composed of vertical walls open at top. and bottom, and provided with a semicircular projection, 00, in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. The truck-hangerD, provided with plate E, shaft F, and carrying-axle O, in the man'- ner and for the purposes set forth.

3. The springs m a n, in combination with plates E E and shaft F, as herein set forth.

4. The combination of the housing G, the springs m n n, the frame H, the shaft F, with the truck-hanger D, all arranged and operating as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in.

presence of witnesses.

JACOB v. ROWLETT.

NV-itnesses:

S. J. MOLEMORE, 'W. O. WEYMAN,

J AMES G. AYDELOTT. 

